Contains Spoilers — Engadget just posted the first real picture and accurate description I've seen in public of the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, set to be announced later today. It's the real deal. Major visible changes from the previous MacBook Pros: — A new iMac-style black border around the display.

Introducing Windows 7 — Hi there, Mike Nash here. — For me, one of the most exciting times in the release of a new product is right before we show it to the world for the first time. And that time is right now. — In a few weeks we are going to be talking about the details of this release at the PDC and at WinHEC.

Free links to your site — I can't believe a new feature from Google isn't getting more notice, because it converts already-existing links to your site into much higher quality links, for free. The Google webmaster blog just announced that you can find the pages that link to 404 pages on your site.

Google, Yahoo Seek to Avoid Antitrust Suit Over Ad Deal — Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. are in talks with the Justice Department in an effort to head off an antitrust challenge to their proposed advertising agreement. — The settlement negotiations are at an early stage and it isn't clear whether …

Confirmed: Obama Is Campaigning on Xbox 360! — Last week we noted unconfirmed sightings of an “Obama for President” billboard in the Xbox 360 racing game Burnout Paradise. Today we're able to report that it is, in fact, an official advertisement placed by the senator's campaign team.

Start-up developing new Web interaction paradigm — In the midst of the financial meltdown and a contentious upcoming election, you might think the U.S. government and taxpayers are just funding wars, bank bailouts, and bridges to nowhere or somewhere. But this is the same government …

Top Digger helps launch Tip'd, a Digg clone for financial news — Tip'd, which launched today, describes itself as “a place for investors... to meet, share, discuss, comment, and vote on what's happening on both Wall Street and Main Street.” Essentially, it's another Digg clone targeting a particular vertical.

Wi-Fi Gets a Boost With Quantenna Chips — If you're like me and believe that Wi-Fi is going to rule the home networking environment, then a means to ensure reliable and fast Wi-Fi connectivity to all corners of the home becomes essential. That's where chipsets from Quantenna Communications …

Mint Leaves Beta, Brings A Bunch Of New Features With It — Mint, the personal finance startup that won last year's TechCrunch 40, has launched a host of new features including investment tracking, 401k managment, and more flexible budget sheets. CEO Aaron Patzer says that the new features finally …

Microsoft: Mac buyers pay Apple tax — Apple may offer lower-priced machines on Tuesday, but one top Microsoft official said Monday that Mac buyers will still be paying an “Apple tax.” — In a lengthy interview, Brad Brooks, vice president of Windows Consumer Product Marketing …

Kongregate: Where the boys are — Kongregate is an anomaly in the casual gaming business. Where many Flash game sites feature card games and are frequented by a diverse population with a good percentage of women, Kongregate has hardly any solitaire-like games and has demographic of about 90 percent men and boys.

An Elephant Backs Up Google's Library — Google often says that it likes to take the long-term view of things. But Google's idea of long term does not appear to be long enough for some librarians, who tend to equate long term with forever, at least when it comes to preserving books.

Treasury to Roll Out New Approach to Credit Crisis — WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is expected Tuesday to roll out a wide-ranging effort to restore confidence to the battered banking system, following similar moves by European governments that sent global stock markets soaring, according to people familiar with the matter.